Cozy Homes Cleanup Act: building standards: gas-fuel-burning appliances.

(1) Existing law, the Manufactured Housing Act of 1980 (the "act") , requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to enforce various laws pertaining to the structural, fire safety, plumbing, heat-producing, or electrical systems and installations or equipment of a manufactured home, mobilehome, commercial coach, or special purpose commercial coach. The act defines "manufactured home" and "mobilehome" to mean a structure that meets specified requirements, including that the structure is transportable in one or more sections and is 8 body feet or more in width, or 40 body feet or more in length, in the traveling mode, or, when erected onsite, is 320 or more square feet, and includes the plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, and electrical systems contained within the structure. The act specifies that it does not prohibit the replacement of water heaters or appliances for comfort heating in manufactured homes or mobilehomes with fuel-gas-burning water heaters or fuel-gas appliances for comfort heating that are not specifically listed for use in a manufactured home or mobilehome, as specified. This bill would extend those provisions to also apply to electric water heaters and electric appliances for comfort heating that are not specifically listed for use in a manufactured home or mobilehome. This bill would provide that the act, including any regulation, rule, or bulletin adopted pursuant thereto, does not prohibit the installation of plumbing, heating, or air-conditioning systems for manufactured homes, mobilehomes, or multifamily manufactured homes from being located outside of the home if necessary to replace an existing fuel-gas-burning water heater. (2) The act requires replacement fuel-gas-burning water heaters to be listed for residential use and installed within the specifications of that listing to include tiedown or bracing to prevent overturning. This bill would also require replacement electric water heaters to be listed for residential use and installed within the specifications of that listing to include tiedown or bracing to prevent overturning. The act requires fuel-gas-burning water heater appliances in new manufactured homes or new multifamily manufactured homes to be seismically braced, anchored, or strapped, as specified. This bill would also require electric water heater appliances in new manufactured homes or new multifamily manufactured homes to be seismically braced, anchored, or strapped, as specified. The act required the Department of Housing and Community Development, on or before July 1, 2009, to promulgate rules and regulations that include standards for water heater seismic bracing, anchoring, or strapping. This bill would require the department, on or before July 1, 2026, to promulgate rules and regulations that include standards for electric water heater seismic bracing, anchoring, or strapping, as specified. This bill would also require the department, if necessary, by July 1, 2026, to update rules and regulations that facilitate the use of electricity-powered space and water heating technologies for manufactured homes, mobilehomes, and multifamily manufactured homes when necessary to replace fuel-burning appliances with electric appliances. The act provides that any person who knowingly violates any provision of the act or any rule or regulation issued pursuant to the act is guilty of a misdemeanor. By establishing new standards applicable to the installation and replacement of electric water heaters, the bill would expand the above-mentioned crime and thus impose a state-mandated local program. (3) The act provides that it does not prohibit the replacement in manufactured homes or mobilehomes of ovens, ranges, or clothes dryers with fuel-gas-burning ovens, ranges, or clothes dryers that are not specifically listed for use in a manufactured home or mobilehome. This bill would authorize the replacement in manufactured homes or mobilehomes of ovens, ranges, or clothes dryers with electric ovens, ranges, or clothes dryers that are not specifically listed for use in a manufactured home or mobilehome. The act requires replacement gas-fuel-burning ovens, ranges, or clothes dryers to be listed for residential use and installed in accordance with the specifications of that listing to include tiedown and bracing to prevent displacement. This bill would require replacement electric ovens, ranges, or clothes dryers to be listed for residential use and installed in accordance with the specifications of that listing to include tiedown and bracing to prevent displacement. (4) Existing law, the State Housing Law, establishes statewide construction and occupancy standards for buildings used for human habitation. The State Housing Law requires local ordinances or regulations that govern the alteration and repair of existing buildings to permit the replacement, retention, and extension of original materials and the use of original methods of constructions, provided that the portion of the building and structure complies with applicable building code provisions and the building does not become or continue to be a substandard building, as specified. This bill would provide that the above provision regarding the use of original materials and methods of construction does not prevail over any state or local law that prohibits the use or installation of fuel-gas-burning appliances or that requires the use or installation of electric appliances. (5) The Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act governs the management and operation of common interest developments. Existing law makes void and unenforceable any provision of the governing documents or architectural or landscaping guidelines or policies that prohibits use of low water-using plants, or prohibits or restricts compliance with water-efficient landscape ordinances or regulations on the use of water, as specified. This bill would make void and unenforceable any provision of the governing documents or architectural guidelines or policies to the extent that the provision prevents the replacement of a fuel-gas-burning appliance with an electric appliance. (6) This bill would state that specified provisions of the bill are declaratory of existing law. (7) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.